Chapter 2
2
HUNTER
“H unter.”
Halfway past Fox’s office, I heard him call my name. He was the president of my club, the Iron Rogues, so I pivoted and stepped inside. Stone, our captain and club lawyer, was kicked back in a chair beside Fox’s desk, flipping through a packet of papers.
Fox sat behind a desk you’d expect to see in a Wall Street exec’s office—big, modern, and spotless. He was a neat freak to the core, though only Maverick, our VP and his best friend, had the balls to tease him about it. The rest of us valued breathing too much.
The prez was wicked smart, had a head for numbers, and a gift for strategy. A complete nerd. But he’d also been schooled in martial arts and weapons from a young age and was deadlier and more fucking ruthless than most of the guys in the club.
Yeah, his road name was spot on. Intelligent, cunning, and lethal.
Before patching into the club, he’d earned a degree in finance from an Ivy League university. Then he’d spent a few years cleaning up on Wall Street. After making a few million, he got bored and came home. Despite being the son of one of the founders—and the president at the time—Fox had prospected like the rest of us, earning fear and respect as he worked his way to the top.
Now? He was the reason we owned most of Old Bridge—and a nice chunk of the next few towns over.
Fox was talking with Maverick, who was leaning against the desk, arms crossed. Deviant, and Racer—two of our enforcers—were camped out at the round table in the corner. So was Savage, a patch who managed the club’s bar, The Midnight Rebel.
The room was built to accommodate large gatherings. Oversized, with a bar and a couple of battered sofas, plus a side door leading into Mav’s office.
“Need something?” I grunted.
Fox paused, pinning me with his steady, sharp gaze. “Need you to make a stop on your way out.”
I nodded.
Viper and I had a quick run to make—delivering a sensitive package to a customer—and then I planned to take a few extra days for a ride-out. It had been almost a year since I’d taken time off. Being an enforcer, especially one with my…skill set, kept me tied up more often than not. Fox gave me shit about burnout every so often, but he wasn’t the type to hold my hand. Which I appreciated because after fifteen years split between the military and the FBI, I didn’t need anyone telling me when to eat, sleep, or shit.
When I’d mentioned taking a break, he just grunted, “’Bout fucking time.”
Stone unfolded from his chair and held out the packet of papers, so I crossed the room and took them.
One glance had my brows pulling together. “A rental agreement?”
Sniper rifles, tracking ghosts, interrogation—those were my wheelhouse. I was a fucking trained killer who was one of the best shots in the country. Legal paperwork? Not so much.
“Just have it with you,” Stone said as though it made perfect sense. “In case there’s any questions.”
I scanned the document again. “Country Crust,” I muttered, then shot Fox a look. “The new bakery?”
He nodded. “When the owner signed the lease, we slipped in a clause allowing background checks on new hires.”
Savage whistled low. “She actually agreed to that?”
Stone shrugged. “Don’t think she noticed. Her lawyer didn’t object. Wasn’t my job to point it out.”
“She hired someone a couple of days ago,” Fox added.
I waited, silent. Wasting words wasn’t my style. It had served me well when I was growing up—and in my career—since being invisible had been an asset in both environments.
Fox was used to it, so he went on without being prompted.
“She hired the girl on the spot. No application, no system record. No name, no social. Until the paperwork’s filled out and we can dig deeper, we need to get a read on her.”
There it was. The reason I was being sent on this little errand.
Maverick spoke up. “Doubt you’ll have to show it, but if the owner pitches a fit about you sniffing around, flash the lease.”
Racer chuckled. “Or turn on that Hunter charm.”
“Guys don’t need charm when they look like him,” Molly—Maverick’s old lady—teased as she breezed into the room.
She winked at me, and Mav’s growl sent a chill through my bones. My club brothers weren’t reasonable when it came to their women. They’d lost their fucking minds.
“You trying to get my ass kicked?” I muttered.
“She’s aiming for a cherry-red ass,” Maverick snarled, hauling his wife into his arms.
“What makes you think I wasn’t talking about you?” Molly shot back, laughing. Mav didn’t crack a smile, but Molly smirked. “Will telling you that Luna is having a sleepover with your parents tonight get me out of trouble?”
“Nope,” he grunted as he jumped to his feet and stalked out of the room with her slung over his shoulder.
“Lucky me!” Molly’s giggles echoed down the hall.
Fox and Stone exchanged looks, both wearing the long-suffering smirks of men who knew exactly what it meant to be whipped—and didn’t give a damn.
“Back to the job?” I prompted, not bothering to mask my impatience.
Deviant snorted. “Someone needs to get your grumpy ass a woman.”
“Doesn’t Alice know someone—” Racer started.
“Not a fucking chance in hell,” I growled. I wasn’t about to let Deviant’s wife or anyone else set me up.
Deviant leaned back in his chair. “You don’t trust Alice?”
I’d almost have believed he was truly offended on her behalf if his eyes hadn’t been filled with laughter.
“It’s not Alice I don’t trust,” I shot back. “It’s you jackasses. Not gonna give you the chance to fuck with me.”
Deviant shrugged. “Fair enough.”
“Killjoy,” Racer griped.
“Guess she’ll just have to fix you up instead,” Deviant drawled with a wicked grin.
Racer went on the defensive, but I ignored their banter and turned back to Fox.
“That all?”
He nodded. “Get a read on her. Call me before you and Viper roll out.”
I gave him a chin lift and stalked out.
* * *
Outside the garage, Viper was already mounted and waiting.
“Fox mention our stop?” He sounded about as thrilled about the task as I was. This was understandable, considering that his old lady, Rhiannon, was about to pop with their first kid.
“Quick in and out,” I promised.
He nodded grimly and kick-started his Harley, the vintage bike roaring to life while I threw a leg over mine. We pulled out and, a few minutes later, rolled up to Country Crust.
Our businesses weren’t jammed onto the compound like some clubs. We owned a good chunk of Old Bridge, leasing out most of it, but the two-block radius around the clubhouse was all us.
Our own little kingdom had residential buildings and houses for members—and trusted tenants—plus the tattoo shop, bar, garage, pawn shop, gun range, barbershop…and more.
Country Crust was one of the few exceptions.
Big picture windows flanked a frosted door, each filled with displays that made my stomach growl.
Viper chuckled, and I shrugged. “Missed breakfast.”
He nodded at one window and grinned. “If any of that shit tastes half as good as it looks, Rhiannon’s cravings alone will keep ’em in business.”
We stepped inside, and the smells of sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon hit me all at once. But something else was sweet and pure. I couldn’t place it, but it only added to the alluring scents making my mouth water, and I damn near groaned out loud.
The place was busy but not packed, the kind of steady hum that meant the food was as delicious as it looked.
I lifted my chin at the people who called out greetings or nodded as I passed, heading straight for the front counter. Some of the customers scattered when they caught sight of my cut like they thought I was gonna snap and kill them for no fucking reason. Idiots.
Most folks in Old Bridge knew better. They understood the truth—there was no safer place to be than under the Iron Rogues’ protection.
We lived by a code. Honor. Loyalty. Our own brand of justice.
We didn’t take shit. And we sure as hell didn’t leave it up to the authorities to deal with the ones stupid enough to cross us. Not that the cops minded much. The smart ones worked with us—because they knew better. The rest? We either owned them outright, or they looked the other way when we handled business.
Anyone dumb enough to fuck with us learned really quick that it was the last thing they’d ever do.
Crime didn’t last long in Old Bridge.
Not unless we allowed it.
As I approached the counter, that smell that I couldn’t place went straight to my bloodstream like a fucking drug.
Out of habit, I automatically scanned the room, and when the woman behind the counter caught my eye, the world went fucking still.
That scent…it was all her.
Soft curves tucked into a simple pale-yellow T-shirt and jeans. Light brown hair that was twisted into a messy bun. Blue eyes like the summer sky after a storm twinkled as she smiled at the customer in front of her. And those lips…holy fuck. They were made for kissing. And they were gonna look perfect wrapped around my cock.
The thought shocked the hell out of me and sent all the blood in my brain rushing to my dick.
Her eyes met mine for just a moment, then her face heated, the pale skin turning bright pink before she looked away. When she brushed a hand over her cheek, a dusting of flour was left behind, and one corner of my mouth lifted. Adorable.
Mine .
The thought hit so fast and vicious, it stole my breath. Tension pulled tight, hard, and fast in my chest—like someone had looped a fucking chain around my ribs.
Viper chuckled beside me. “You good, brother?”
I didn’t answer. Couldn’t get a fucking word out if I’d cared to try.
All I could do was stare, rooted to the spot like someone seeing sunshine for the first time in his shadowy life. I probably should have worried about what her light might reveal if it shined onto the deepest, darkest parts of me. But I was riveted, still lost to the vision before me.
She glanced at me again, and her body practically vibrated with bouncy, nervous energy. Almost as though she couldn’t stand still but wasn’t sure if she should run either.
And that blush…it was killing me. She was a shy, sweet thing—practically made of sunshine.
She was also young. Too damn young. Fuck.
I caught the slight twitch in her fingers when she brushed flour off her hands—and I nearly smiled at the tell. She was nervous, but when I looked closer, she didn’t seem scared.
Big fucking difference.
Then her gaze darted behind me, and a shadow passed over her face. When I glanced back, the room was mostly clear, so all she was looking at was the door. Her eyes darted to the side door, as if she needed to know where the exits were. It was quick and subtle, but I hadn’t missed a single thing about her since the moment I saw her and instinct crawled up my spine.
She was scared. Not of me, though. Not even today, not here—but at some point. Something had scarred her. And the fucking thought of it made my vision go a little red at the edges.
Some people might have missed the signs—but as I watched her and saw the way her breath sped up when too many people crowded the counter, how her gaze snagged on the closed kitchen door behind her, just for a second.
I rarely missed shit. I was quiet, observant, and had an unusual ability to read people. It was why Fox sent me to the bakery.
And it hadn’t escaped my scrutiny that she hated feeling trapped.
Noted, sunshine.
Finally, the customer in front of me moved out of the way, and I stepped up to the counter. I was close enough to fill my lungs with her delicious aroma but not to touch her, and it drove me crazy.
“Hello, sunshine,” I said, my voice low and rumbly. My lips curled up when I saw her tiny shiver and the pink blooming on her cheeks again.
She was affected by me. Good.
“Um. Hi. What can I get for you?”
Now, that was a loaded question if ever I heard one. What could she get for me?
Get on her knees.
Get naked.
Get bent over the nearest table.
Get fucked.
But rather than say what I was thinking and scare her off, I took a deep breath and focused on her soft voice and sweet smile.
“What’s your name?” I asked as I swiped a couple of fingers over her cheek to brush away the residual flour. She shivered again, and I had to bite back a groan.
“Sadie Morgan.”
“Beautiful,” I murmured.
A muffled chuckle came from beside me, and I glanced over to see Viper watching me with amusement. I scowled, my eyes promising death and dismemberment if he said one fucking word.
He grinned and turned to Sadie. “Hi, Sadie. I’m Viper. How about a black coffee and one of those croissants? To go.”
“Um, sure,” she replied, stealing another glance at me before she turned to get Viper’s order. There had been a glimmer of disappointment in her sky-blue orbs, and I was very tempted to reassure her that I wasn’t going anywhere.
“You know we can’t stay,” Viper muttered, somehow reading my thoughts. As though I didn’t fucking know that.
“Two days,” I grunted.
A lot could happen in that time. What if some asshole decided he wanted her, and I wasn't around to officially stake my claim?
Viper nodded, knowing my mind again. “Send a text to one of the prospects and get them to cover the bakery until we get back. Tell ’em to scare the living shit out of any guy who goes near her.”
Nodding, I withdrew my phone from the inner pocket of my cut and followed Viper’s suggestion. When I pressed send, some of the tension in my chest eased.
“Here you go,” Sadie chirped as she handed my brother a to-go cup and paper bag. Then she turned her eyes back to my face and smiled. Any blood that had returned to my brain was now swelling my cock.
Fuck! What the hell had happened to my self-control? No one had ever been able to shake it before. Then along came this pretty, innocent little thing, and I was ready to snap.
“Do you want anything?” she pressed.
“You have to stop asking men shit like that,” I grumbled. “It puts dirty ideas in their head.”
Her mouth formed a little O, and she double blinked.
“Coffee, sunshine,” I finally ordered, steering us away from the sexual tension building in the air.
“Black?” she asked breathlessly.
“Yeah, baby,” I confirmed. “Black.”
Just like my fucking soul.
Sadie beamed at me before grabbing a cup and the coffee pot.
“New around here?”
“Sort of,” she answered with a smile as she poured, then replaced the pot and reached for a lid. “I grew up twenty-five minutes from here, but I’ve never actually been to Old Bridge.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Can’t have been to many places at your age.”
Sadie quirked a brow and giggled as she lifted the lid on a glass cake stand holding frosted sugar cookies..“How did you know that?”
“I’m good at reading people,” I admitted. “This is your first job.”
She blushed and shuffled on her feet. “Am I that bad at it?”
“You’re perfect, sunshine. An open book. I like seeing your thoughts and emotions so clearly on your face. But then again, at eighteen”—I guessed—“you haven’t really learned to close yourself off yet.”
“I’m nineteen,” she corrected with a frown. “And that sounds lonely.”
“Can be,” I acknowledged. “Doubt anyone would feel that way around you, shining so bright.”
“Um, thank you.” She placed one of the sugar cookies—frosted in bright yellow—in a small bag and handed it to me.
I reached into my pocket for my wallet, but she waved it away.
“My treat.” Her face flushed as she smiled bashfully. “A little sunshine to take with you.”
“Thank you,” I murmured. Our fingers brushed when she handed me the cup and cookie.
Electricity raced over every nerve ending, and it took every single shred of my control not to leap over that counter, throw her over my shoulder, and run.
“Hunter,” Viper interrupted, his tone apologetic. “Gotta run, brother.”
My hand flexed, itching to wrap around his neck and strangle him so he’d stop trying to drag me away from my sweet girl. Unfortunately, he wasn’t wrong. And killing him in front of Sadie would probably make claiming her a fuck of a lot harder. I didn’t want her to be afraid of me. Ever. I wanted to be the one to take away all of her fears.
First, I had to get this club shit out of the way. Since I’d already been planning to take a few days off when I got back, now I could devote all that time to her.
“Soon, sunshine,” I told her in a low, gritty voice. My lips twitched when she shivered and blushed.
After looking her over once more, etching her face into my fucking bones, I turned and walked away.
Sadie Morgan was pure sunshine.
I felt a little unbalanced for the first time since I was seventeen. But from the first moment I laid eyes on Sadie, I’d known one thing for certain.
She didn’t belong to this place, this bakery, this town.
Sadie belonged to me.
She just didn’t know it yet.